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| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: December 14, 2009 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
PURCHASING NEW CAMERA-EQUIPPED cruisers for columbus police: Columbus police officers will soon be patrolling the city in new squad cars equipped with digital cameras. Public Safety Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 1687-2009 to authorize the expenditure of $2,315,142 from the General Permanent Improvement Fund for the purchase of 62 Crown Victoria police vehicles and optional equipment such as computers, docking systems, digital video systems, and sirens from Statewide Ford Lincoln Mercury Inc. and Germain Ford LLC. The new cruisers will permanently replace current vehicles that have accrued high mileage. The new cruisers are expected to be patrolling city streets by the summer of 2010.
PALEY HELPING PROTECT VICTIMS: In 1988, the City Attorney’s Office created the Stalking Unit within the Domestic Violence Unit to investigate stalking complaints and support victims. Judiciary and Court Administration Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring two ordinances to help combat this crime. Ordinance 1677-2009 authorizes the acceptance of a grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Homeland Security, in the amount of $43,543 for the Stalking Investigation program. The ordinance also authorizes the transfer and appropriation of $14,515 in city matching funds required by the acceptance of the grant. Ordinance 1683-2009 authorizes the expenditure of not more than $54,040 from those funds for the City Attorney to hire a stalking investigator. This position will assist in the investigation of stalking cases, assist victims, and serve as a liaison with area police departments to share information and maintain data. Stalking occurs when a person engages in a pattern of conduct that knowingly causes the victim to believe the offender will cause physical harm or mental distress to them. Menacing by stalking is a crime under Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.211 and a first degree misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or $1,000 fine. A fifth degree felony may be filed if there is a previous stalking conviction.
SUPPORTING BIKEWAY DEVELOPMENT AND THE ALUM CREEK TRAIL: The City of Columbus is committed to providing residents with alternative means of transportation through cycling and walking. Priscilla R. Tyson, Chair of the Recreation and Parks committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1635-2009 which will authorize the acceptance and appropriation of a $3,000,000.00 grant from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for the Alum Creek Trail Sunbury Road to Innis Park Project. The ordinance also authorizes the expenditure of $3,716,531.33, which includes a contingency of $162,650.00 from the Voted 1999/2004 Park and Recreation Bond Fund and Recreation and Parks grant funds for continued construction of the project. The 2.2 mile trail will link parks, schools and neighborhoods along the stream corridor and has been recognized as a key component of the greenway network by many organizations.
REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE HOME AGAIN PROGRAM: The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving quality affordable housing for families in need. The organization participates in the Home Again program to address blight through the acquisition and rehabilitation of vacant houses, which will increase the supply of safe, affordable housing and enhance neighborhood revitalization efforts. Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 1668-2009, which authorizes the expenditure of $168,880.64 from the Land Management Fund for the program. The city is working with the Housing Trust in addressing vacant homes in Franklinton and other designated model zone areas.
SUPPORTING URBAN PAVEMENT PROGRAM: The Ohio Department of Transportation and the city of Columbus are working together to improve local roadways. Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 05105-2009 to authorize $573,082 from the Governmental Build America Bonds Fund for the West Broad Street (U.S. 40) Urban Paving project. The project will resurface approximately 1.93 miles of West Broad Street from Hague Avenue to Central Avenue and the Broad Street west and east bound ramps to I-70. The project will also include the addition or reconstruction of 78 handicap ramps on the north and south side of West Broad Street.
MILLER SUPPORTING DIGITAL VISUALIZATION LABORATORY AT COSI: Administration Committee Chair A. Troy Miller joined community partners today at COSI for a demonstration in the Digital Visualization Laboratory. The proposed laboratory would function as a 60-foot dome theatre with fulldome high-resolution projections within COSI’s existing planetarium space and serve as a working laboratory for scientists, business analysts, artists, and educators to make data come alive. The demonstration included viewing existing scientific, business and entertainment imagery in the immersive dome environment. The laboratory has the potential to revolutionize the way information is processed, analyzed and shared.
MENTEL DELIVERING WINTER COMMENCEMENT address AT ohio dominican UNIVERSITY: City Council President Michael C. Mentel will serve as keynote speaker during the winter commencement ceremony at Ohio Dominican University (ODU) on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in Alumni Hall gymnasium (1216 Sunbury Road). ODU Interim President Ron Seiffert will bestow President Mentel with a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa for his outstanding service to the community. Ohio Dominican University is a private institution founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican tradition. The university has more than 3,000 students and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.
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